Utahns!! (and anyone else who's interested,)

[mljdeckard]

Email Gov. Herbert ASAP on .gov website and urge him to support SB 11, the bill asserting that guns made within Utah are not under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Fix my terminology later, go here now and drop a quick, courteous message.


Call and e-mail Gov. Herbert and politely ask him to sign SB 11 (Utah Made Firearms Protections). Do this now even if you have already contacted him.

801-538-1000 or 800-705-2464 Mon. - Thur. 7:00AM - 6:00 PM

E-mail him on the web at http://governor.utah.gov/goca/form_comment.html




Remember that Governor Herbert is our friend. He has never given us any reason to doubt his commitment to the 2nd Amendment and the principal of State's Rights.
We just need to let him know that we, as freedom loving Utahan's, support SB11 and encourage him to sign it.

The current situation with Governor Herbert is that he has been advised by prominent counsel that SB11 is likely to create a large fiscal liability to the State of Utah.
Simply put - We disagree with this counsel for the following reasons.

1st. The Federal Government has not sued the state of Montana, nor are they threatening to do so.
2nd. The MSSA (Montana Shooting Sports Association) has sued the Federal government over the principals in the MFFA (Montana Firearms Freedom Act)
3rd. The MSSA is being represented by Pro Bono Attorneys who have been lining up to represent them.
4th. This is exactly the way that the MSSA envisioned their fight to proceed.
5th. Utah would have no requirement to defend let alone bring action against the Federal Government to validate this legislation.

The Governor recently met with the Senate and House Sponsors of the bill, Sen. Margaret Dayton and Rep. Steve Sandstrom, as well as Rep. Carl Wimmer, a founder of the
Patrick Henry Caucus. In this meeting the above points were presented to the Governor.

No one knows for certain at this point how the Governor will decide, so he needs to hear from as many gun owners as possible NOW! Ask Gov. Herbert to sign Senate Bill 11 into
law.

(Copied from the USSC alert email.)

 

[Girodin]

I'd add this is a much bigger issue than gun. This has to do with the fundamental balance between states rights and Federal power. It is an assertion that the tenth amendment is not "merely a truism" but restriction on federal power and an assertion that the states are not in accord with the Federal governments invasion of local issues through a perverse interpretation of the commerce clause.

I'm not too hopeful for the how this legal battle will go but I still think passing the bill is at a minimum sending the right message.

As a further note Herbert is in for a battle to remain governor and thus is particularly likely to respond to strong constituent pressure.

 

[mljdeckard]

I haven't yet decided if I will back him. This may well be the decisive factor.

 

[hso]

Yes, if we don't call to back this bill you won't know if it was he that failed us or us that failed him by letting him know the will of the people.

 

[mljdeckard]

The news says that it looks like he's going to veto it.

 

[Girodin]

The news says that it looks like he's going to veto it

The bill passed with a super majority (a provision in it actually called for a super majority before it took effect. If the legislature wants to over ride that veto they only need all the same people who voted for it the first place to vote for it again.

 

[mljdeckard]

Even if they squeak it by, it will still seal his fate as far as I'm concerned.

 

[KBintheSLC]

If he veto's it, he can kiss his 2010 reelection goodbye... and the bill will still pass. After living in UT for 30 years, I know one thing about state-level politics... don't legislate like an anti if you want to survive. It may work for city-level politics in nannyville's like Park City or SLC, but not for the gubna.

 

[Webbj0219]

Are you Utahn's trying to get a -1.0 on the brady scorecard?

 

[mljdeckard]

We want them to add things they forgot to the scorecard. We want ti INVENT new things they don't like. ("They can do that?! Oh, CRAP!!")

 

[Girodin]

The bill was signed into law. Herbert's democratic challenger, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Coroon criticized him for it.


http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9824672

Utah governor: Feds have no right to regulate guns in state
February 26th, 2010 @ 5:10pm
By John Daley

SALT LAKE CITY -- Gov. Gary Herbert signed a controversial message bill about guns Friday after raising questions just a day before about its cost. His Democratic opponent calls it a mistake that could cost the state millions.

It's called Senate Bill 11. It would exempt Utah from any federal regulations on firearms made and sold within the state.

Thursday, the governor hinted he might veto the bill, due to questions about its constitutionality and the costs of potentially lengthy court fight.

"I don't mind the message. I just don't want to end up having a million dollar cost attached to it, where we have slim chance of winning," Herbert said. "I think we have a slim chance of even getting to the Supreme Court, which is the intent of that particular piece of legislation."

Friday, Herbert signed the bill, saying: "There are times when the state needs to push back against continued encroachment from the federal government." He said he signed the law because it furthers the dialogue without "unduly burdening Utah taxpayers."

But the governor's Democratic opponent, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, says with the state facing a $700 million budget deficit, signing the bill was the wrong decision.

"I'm pro-gun. I'm pro-Second Amendment. I'm pro-state sovereignty. But I'm also a fiscal conservative, and I'm concerned that this bill could cost taxpayers up to $10 million," Corroon says.

The same debate is being heard on Capitol Hill over the cost and consequences of a series of so-called message bills.

"Those who criticize generally aren't those who represent a group of constituents. For me personally, my constituents are very pleased with the message bills we run," says Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City.

But Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake City, says, "Although I'm supportive of the state and its position, saying it once is sufficient without having to repeat ourselves and, if you will, poke them in the eye and kick them in the shin."

In his statement Wednesday, the governor said Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has assured him, should a legal challenge be filed against the state, Shurtleff's office could defend this legislation with minimal cost to the state.

E-mail: [email protected]

 

[mljdeckard]

Yeah I heard it while I was driving tonight. Not too concerned with WHY he did it, but he did it. We all need to email him and thank him now.